Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular corresp,ndent.l
WAsHINGToS. May 18th, 1887.

WASHINGTON. May 18th, 1887.
For the past few days Washingt on
has been alive with hotel proprietors, !
medical men and old soldiers OF the
Army OF the Cumberland. Each class
has been holding II convcn-
ton here. The surgeons attended
strictly to business, but the Bonifaces,
who represented all the lending cities
and the leading hotels in the tnited
states, while much on pleasure bent.
were not possessed of frugal minds APP
parently. They We're banqueted by
the local hotel proprietors in man
nel beiitting professional epicures. and
were taken to Mount Vernon, also TO
see the president, to see he sights of
the capital and 10 the theatres by the
public "mine hosts of this city. and
it required good little sum OF money
tn pay the carriase hire alone for two
hundred visitors.
The chief event of the reunion OF the
Army OF the Cumberland was he un-
yelling of the bronze statue OF Garfield.
erected by his old comrades in arms.
The ceremonies took place on Thurs
day. The day was one of Mays most
perfect specimens. thecrowd in attend
ance very large. and every detail OF
the programme successfully carrie !
ont. The three surviving OF the five
commanders who succeeded one an
other ut the head of the Army OF the
Cumberland were present-t;ens. ~ler-
| man, Buell. and Rosecrans-and rode
| in a carriage together in the parade
with Gen. Sheridan, the president oi
the society OF the Army Of the Cum
f, berland.
| The pyrorama, which is to be one %
the attractions arranged by the man.
| aging committee for drill week is being
erected on the drill ground. 1t requires
n frontage of about 300 icet, and il
will he shown only OF nights. 1t vii
represent the naval battles in liamp
ton roads which ended with the mem
orable contest between the Monitor
and the Merimac. Unlike Il panorama
theiron-clads will bereal vessels, mad,
according to the originals. and will h.
seen moving about, the perspective
being such that they appear to be %
full size.
The illusion is such that the specla
tor will appear to be standing on th'
shore OF Hampton Roads. lie see
the water stretching out before him
"A light house with II revolving li1ht j.
introduced for picturesque effect, anf
in the distance is Fortress Monroe an,
n number of vessels oi the federal llcr
anchored near by. The drama open
by the appearance OF the Cumberland
Which comes in underiull sail and drop
anchor.
The Merimac then appears and III
work f,lest rllction begins, endlngNl
the battle between the Merinac an
Monitor. in which he former is burne.
The vessels are worked by screws ah
several men seem to get badly hurno
i'm the sclimage. The guns are mad
OF thin plates oi iron but they hah
collars ut the mtzzles which maj
> them look thick and solid. Appagentl
1 L L i, II ti,..,l .,.fs ii
= when they strike the side Of a ve.st
explode and make brilliant sho}
During each exhibition 3,JU0 IA,
= bombs are fired, other vessels IA
= burned AMI the thrilling scenes
Il Hampton Roads are wildly po
trayed.
One OF the sins of the last cou-fe-
due either TO cheese-parlng o. 10 tt
: plumbers OF the rush of IA closln, -
sion. was ,hefaiurc make prov i-iu
for lighting he Washing on Monunrt
and running the elevator. ~ "a rc~u
only people who are bold and siroi
enough to grope 10 the top vii u ca
dies can enjoy the wonderful Nic" ifol
its summit. Thieves protected bE Il
darkness have chippcd and mtrr,
the ornamental stones wiihin. 1n
now owing to this vandalism. and J
failure fcongres- % provide the lneai
oi protcction. the monument viii
closed to visitors entirely. The Vlit
force i, inadequate to prevent o,pr
dation, by relic -rekrr> and othe
j. who drfare theniemorial - ones -imp
through deprayity "f nature. II
marble has been rhippe.l in many %.
II rc-. while the silver orntmentatiou q
the Nevada stone has been mutIla e"
and the bronze letters on tine ~
tablet have many of them artutt
been forced off aud carried away
q, mement oes. During the national d.
it is intended to open the SHAFT to =
itor-. provided thedrih cominittr- IS
furnish watch force sufficient !or
r,r,,f,r.f ION